Inflated ball



M. B. REACH May 3, 1938.

INFLATED BALL FilQd Oct. lO, 1936 .mima Ream lPatented Mey 3,193s f ev'2,116,479'

,UNIT-ED s'rA'rss f PATENT OFFICE Mlltnn B. Bcnhfspringeld; Masi'.

ApplicationV October 10, 1,936, Serial N0. 105,126

31 Claim!- (Cl. 273-5-65) t Y- 1 i f The invention is an improvementupon ini, remain hinged or connected to the main bodies l' iiatd playingballs. Thisapplicatipn is a con of their respective layers/ot fabric.vtinuation in part of thatled by me April 2, After the desired number oflayers of textile 1936,Serial Number 72,397; v fabric have been laid ou4the wax .orother form` In the drawingin superposed relation with theirtabs or flaps 5 Figures 1, 2 and `3 show in section different foldedinto the interior of the waxl forni, and

steps lnthe order in which they occur in carry- ^after these layers havebeen united with each ing out the method in one form. 1 other by africtional rolling the tabs or flaps `4, Fig. 3Q. isa view similar toFig. 3 with ,a cover 4a etc. are thenfdrawn outward. through theapplied. ,e opening inthe form, while remaining connected 1 0 Fig. 4 isa diagram showingoneassembly of Withheir respective layers of fabric asshown inV closure flaps orftabs. X' Flg.2. n A Fig. 5` is a diagramshowing another assembly The wax formis now melted out or broken up of`closure naps or tabs;V f' and the pieces are removed through the open'-i; 4Fig. 6. illustrates another method. ig in the textile fabricfoundation of the ball 15 Fig. 7 is a view of the ball showlngthe sec-`thus far formed.V The inflatable rubberbladder tional cover. n i isf'nowinserted threugh the opening in the texgg. 8 is a -view of amodification. tile foundation composed of the plurality of suoneembodiment of the invention a spheri perposed layers which have beenunited with each i cal shell, as an example, of wax indicated at l,other and then the bladder is blown up to the 2O Fig. l. is employed,having an opening 2 .therein .required diameter. e tab or flap 4belonging which is preferably rectangular in shape. On' to the rst4layer of fabric is now folded down this shell which acts as a form uponwhichl to l onto the surface of the bladder, and hence said buuathebali, n plurality of layers or textile fabflap ile the openihs in theiirst layer with. its

ric 3 are laid with their respective warp threads edge in the same planeWith the fabric layer 0f 25 in crossing relation. Thisfabric may beballoon which it forms a Dart. l cloth, non-extensible, and rubbercoated. As an' In other words. the ap or tab does not overexample, twolayers of 'this' abrio may be used, lap .its main body lyer.- bili?fOlmSJ' SmQOth but more layers may be employed. After the surfacedclosure for the opening in said layer p ilrst layerof rubber coatedtextile fabric is laid `with its edge in substantially abuttingrelationA 30 on the wax or other form, that part of the fabric to theedge of the mai? lyer all the margin 0f whichreg'isters with the openingin the-formis the Opening. "l'his tab may be cemented t0 the 1. eutthrough ontmee sides and the nap or tongue bladder. The olosine tab orlisp of each suoe thus formed is folded downl yinto the interior ceedinglayer of textile fabric is cemented down s epaee of the hollow form asshown: at 4. The upon the tab of the preceding. layer, each llins 35next layer 1s now `1am on the mst layer and afthe opening left bycutting, the ,tab from the body xed thereto by a cementing action. Thislayer is 0f the layer 0f Whioh it fOlmS a Dart, and ah likewise cutthrough whre itroverlies the openmaking a closure flush with its ownlayer. ing 2 in fthe form, but in such relation to the Theab may be 0frelatively different Sizes D tab or flan` of the nrst layer that whereasthe or diameters so that the joints ofsaid'tabs with 40 ilrst layer willhave its flap l attached thereto at the layers of fabric will notregister but will be the lefthand side of the opening, the fold olinapstaggered 'relative to each other to avoid any lla ofthe secondlayerwill have, its"hinge or billkineSS which might 8 188 fiOm hving the' yintact connection with the seid layer displaced Joints match in thevarious layers. This offset s around the margin of the hole relative tothe relation is indicated in the diagram' F18. 4 which 45 hinge 'orintegral connection or the nrst tab, for shows the tab ,l in dottedlines larger than the instance, et the right of the opening, end ifthere tab la. Each tab is an integral part or its parwere three layersthe flap for the third layer will ticular layer of balloon cloth and isstrengthened,

l be foldable in a direction at'an angle to the di the1'eby.\ l `50rection of folding of the first two layers, and so By reason of thisconstruction each tab or flap V on with the :dans of other 'layers ifmore layers 'makes a flush closure for its` 'own layer and thanth'ee'are employed. In other words, these therefore the completed ball willbe free from aps are inr displaced or staggered relationv to anyprotuberant portion or unevenne'ss at the '.g Sach other in respecttothe points where vthey point where the closing-of the opening in the 5textile foundation takes place, so` that the ball may be of truespherical form.

A coat or layer of rubber may be applied to the exterior of thefoundation of textile material as built up according to the foregoingdescription, and a veneer of leather panels L may form the outsidecovering for the ball.

The wax form may be coated with a thin lm of rubber or similar gumbefore-applying the fabric thereto. Each textile'fabric layer may be ina plurality of pieces to t the spherical' shape of the form of wax. 'Iheleather veneer may be formed of a plurality of pieces shaped like thepieces of a base ball cover, having abutting edges without stitching,said cover being cemented to the outer layer of the ball and having itsabutting edges cemented together.

Any desired form of lling valve may be employed indicated generally at6, having capacity to c lose automatically when the lling nozzle iswithdrawn, and access to the valve may be had through an opening in theclosure tabs' and cover, or this valve may be located at any pointremoved from the tabs.

The ball before the leather veneer is applied may be placed in a moldand all parts bonded together under pressure and moderate heat. Afterthe carcass isl completely bonded the leather veneer is applied throughthe medium of a vulcanizing cement which requires only relatively lightpressure and very little heat, so that injury to and uneven shrinkage ofthe leather is avoided. Instead of a wax form a sectional form of metal,or other material, may be used, the sections being held together bysuitable locking means, which lwhen properly operated will release thesections so that they may be removed one by one from wthin'the textilefoundation through the open; ing 2 as described above.`

Where a wax form is used it may be meltedout by a steam nozzle.

Where the hinged end of one of the closure tabs overlies the free edgeof another tab the latter will be reinforced, strengthened and rheld inits iiush position'relative to the fabric layer to which it belongs. M

n outer coating or layer of rubber may be applied -to the fabric byusing two sectionsof hemispherical shape, or otherwise.

instance, a solid walledfcore or form la initially may be employed i. e.a hollow ball of wax without any pre-formed opening in its wall. 'I'herst layer of foundation textile fabric is laid on this 55 -hollow balland the outline of the hole or opening later to be cut therein and inthe wax form is marked or-stamped on this layer. A thin piece of metal'l of approximately the size of the hole to b eformd is placed on thisfabriclayer within' thestamped or marked area where it will be held (iby the adhesive surface of thelfabrlc. The next layer of 'fabric isIthen put on and rolled down' to unite with the first layer. Anothermetal piece la is 'placed on this layer of fabricsubstantially inregistration with the first piece of metal.- Each succeeding `fabriclayer is rolled down upon the preeding layer andis provided .with one-ofthe metalv pieces. All thec layers of fabric now will .have beencemented, one to `the other,l throughout their surfaces, excepting-where the 'metal' separators lie. Asan alternative .tlese areas may becoveredwith talc powder toA prevent adhesion ofY laminations during Vthe,frlctional `rolling process, the talc, bypreventing cohesion acting.

75 as separators to permit the cutting of the` tabs 'I'he method may bemodied'as in Fig.'6. For r j Under the method employed .by me thetextile in the same manner as-prescribed for the metal separators. A tabis now cut out of the upper layer of fabric, the metal separator actingas a stop or shield to prevent the blade of the knife cutting through tothe second layer. The tab 5 thus formed and connected integrally at onepoint with its own body layer is folded outwardly and the metal piece isremoved. The next layer of fabric is cut in a manner `ust described, butin displaced relation to the rst cut so that its hinge or integralconnection will be displaced relative to the integral connection of thefirst tab. Its tab is folded outwardly and its metal piece removed, andif more than two layers are provided the operation just described isrepeated for each layer, until the wax or other form is exposed. Aholeis next cut throughl the exposed part'of the wax form so that a steamnozzle may be intrpduced for melting out the wax, or taking its piecesout if the wax form is broken up instead of .being melted.

The bladder, if one'is used, now may be inserted-and blown up andthe'tabs may be'foldekddown onto` this bladder as previously described.

-By either of the above methods the opening made in thevfondation layeror layers of textile fabric may be repaired while still preservinguniiormity in the thickness of the wall of the ball throughout itsextent whether at'or aroundthe margins of the opening in the ball, orthroughout all other portions thereof. Y

It will be observed that the closure member being integral with thelayers of the foundation material and made up of tabs displaced inrespect to their relative points o'i' connection with their 35respective layers constitute jointly, in effect, an integralcontinuation of the wall overlyingl the wall of thebladd'er andresisting the internal pressure of said bladder to prevent bulging outof the Vbladder at this point/ so that the spherical 40 formation `willbe preserved. i

If four tabs are used displacedninetydegrees from each other, as diagramFig. 5 shows. there will be an intact connection around the entire;margin of the opening distributed throughout the composite tab orclosure Imade up ofthe four individual tabs cemented o`r unitedtogether. These intact connections are indicated at af--b--cA and d inFig. 5. Where two layers are employed their tabs preferably would nedisplaced 180 so," from each other around the center of the openmg' o AThe invention is not limited to lin'e of the `tabs disclosed herein.

'I'he wall of the ball may be air-tight and em- 55 ployed without arubber bladder. lSuch a wall would be made up of layers each having aclosing tab orap for the opening through which the form may be removed,the tabs thereafter being Y united `by inserting a rubber foundationpatch inside the wall of the case of a larger area than the opening, therubber patch becoming a foundathe precise outtion member to cement thefirst tab to in lieu of A the bladder, cementing them together andvcemenungthe 'jointe between `themd and me may t54 of the cloth. Theball may be blown up and the cover sections of leather then may beapplied. In this form of ball the textile material employed would beinextensible like in the form first de-` scribed.

wall A is thoroughly; lasted down after it has been patterned bymaterial. That is to say,

to an exact form,/ removing surplus in :laying the textile material ontotheform where surplus accumulations occur in the form of pleats in therelatively inextensible fabric used by me these pleats are cut-outleaving the material thus patterned with abutting edges in variousextents according to the degree that these pleats occur, no stretchingor tensioning of the fabric taking place. The size and form of thefabric wall is pre-determined according to the size of theform on whichthe ball is made. The subsequent action in a mold is merely for unitingthe parts.-

The invention is applicable to balls other than spherically shaped. l eBy employing' textile fabric which is relatively inextenslble accuracyof the prescribed shaper of the ball may be attained.

In Fig. 8 is showna form of closure in which the tabs instead ofremaining attached at one point to themain part of the layer oi.' fabricto which they belong are in the form of separate pieces which areapplied in superposed relation, and each cemented to the one next belowit, each being ilushwith its own layer, so that the composite closurelwill be-iiush'with the outer and inner surfaces of the built up wall offabric layers. `The innermost tabwill be cemented to the bladder, or ifthe bladder is not used, then f. this innerclosure member will becemented to a innermost layer.

The reference character la in Fig'. 8 indicates this patch, orit may beconsidered as representing the portion of the bladder which underliesthe innermost? fabric'` layer. The patch sections indicated at 4b may beof diiferent diameters frto fit in their respectiveopenings in thefabric layers, so that the margins will overlap and thus break joints.These independent patches are, as stated above, each flush with thefabric layer whose opening; it closes, making a flush joint therewith. A

They are cemented oneupon another, and make up abompos'ite closure.

Where'featuresof oneJ form can lie used with features of modified formsdescribed herein, said features may be regarded as embodied in saidforms, for convenience off-illustration.l

Claims pertaining to thev method of making the ball disclosed herein areembodied in my copending application Ser.x No. 72,397, filed April 2,1936, Aand divisional application Ser. No. 154,636, filed July 20. 1937.H n

I claim: `1. A hbllow ball comprising a wall composed of layers of'material superposed one on another, and closure means for ali-'openingin said iamifnated wall consisting of a.' plurality of tabs, eachforming an integral continuation of its own layer, said tabsbeingdisplaced relative to their points ofv connection with theirrespective layers around the opening, filling said opening ush with theouter surface of saidJvall. and 4with their edges substantially inabutting relation, to the edge of the opening tomake a ush joint 'atsaid opening. i2. An iniiatablejballV comprising a. wall. ccmposedoflayers-superposed one on another, said wall having anA opening, abladder within the ball,

Vinserted through said opening. and closure means for the openingconsisting of a plurality of tabs, each forming an integral continuationof4 its own layer-and said tabs beingdispiaced relative to their`lpoints of connection with their respective' layers mimi the ognuna.mung said penmg removed.

means closing 'said opening and said, inner member. slid patch means inthe wall flush with the outer surface of said wall and with theiredgesin abutting relation to the edge of the opening to make a ilush jointand sustaining the bladder against bulging at,said

opening, substantially as described.

3. A bau according to 01mm 1 in which the tabs forming the compositeclosure are of a number to provide substantially an intact connectionbetween' said composite closure andl the entire margin of the opening.

4. A ball according to claim 1 in which the' closure tabs are unitedwith yeach other. s

5. A ball according to claim 1 inwhich a layer of material encloses thefabric layers and isunited thereto and to the closure tabs.substantially as described.

6-. A ball according to claim 1 in which the opening through the wall isrectangulareand the tabs are integrally lconnected respectivelywithditlerent sides of said rectangular opening.

7. A ball according to, claim 1 in which-the closure tabs are ofdifferent diameters and the holes in their corresponding fabric layersare of different diameters to correspond with the diameters nf therespective tabs 8. An athletic game ball comprising an air retainingmember, "a wall composed of lamina- ,tions of textile fabric surroundingthe air retaining character, said textile member being of a sizeprefixed by its shaping' to the formin respect to the application of acover., and a cover cohesively applied to the textile member inhomogeneous relationship, substantially as desc bed. i

11. An athletic game ball having a carcass comprising a wall of layers,pf textile fabric having laminated means similar to said 'wall sealingair tight an openingthrough which a form was 12. An athletic ballaccording to claim l1 in which the means for sealing'the opening in thelaminated wall is flush with the inner and outer surfaces of said wall.

13. An athletic ball. according to claim 11 in ,which the means forsealing'the opening in the 14. An athletic game, ball comprising afwail'of layers of textile fabric having means sealing air shaped unsewnmember of relatively non-stretchtight an .opening through which a formwas l removed, said sealing `means being laminated, each laminationbeing substantially flush with the layer of fabric whese opening itcloses, and

composed of a separate piece, substantially as described.v i

ing an opening through its wall, an inner inembercementedto the innerside of said carcass and extendingnacross the said openingJnd patchbearing Vou the will llibstantially ilush with the inner and outersurfaces of the carcass.

16. An inatable athletic ball according to claim 15 in which the innermember is in sheet form with its edge portions overlappingthe margin ofthe opening through the carcass.

17. An in atable athletic ball according to claim 14 in whichlaminations of the sealing means are of different diameters from eachother and overlap the margin of the body llaminaticns.

18. An inatable game ball comprising a nonstretchable, flexible carcassof contacting textile fabric laminations in homogeneous union having` alimited patched area and providing a wall which is o1' substantiallyuniform thickness and strength throughout, and is substantiallypermanently closed, and a substantially inelastic cover for the ballconsisting of pieces of sheet material meeting edge to edge and cementedon said wall and its patched area, said carcass being determinative,when inated, ofthe size and shape of the ball, and relieving the coverof stress ofthe internal pressure, and means whereby the ball may beminted. Y

19. An inflatable athletic game ball having a non-stretchable, exiblecarcass of textile fabric laminations in` homogeneous union, the wall ofwhich is of uniform thickness and strength` throughout, and a cover onsaid carcass of pieces of sheet material cemented inplace, havingtheiredges abutting, said being determinative, when inated, of thesize-'and shape of the ball,

and relieving the cover of stress of the internal pressure.

20. An inatable athletic game ball having a carcass, non-stretchable andflexible, of textile fabric laminations in' homogeneous union, with aninflatable bladder permanently inserted therein, the laminated textilewall being substantially continuous and .uniform in thickness andstrength throughout; to produce like reactions at all points,

and a cover of sheet material in sections cement( edon saidV carcass,said carcass being determina- `tive of the size and shape of the ballindependent- 1y O vthe bladder.

21. An inflatable athletic game ball having a A y carcass,non-stretchable and exible, of textile fabric laminations in homogeneousunion, the laminated textile wall being substantially con-'- tinuous anduniform inithickness and strength throughout to produce like reactionsat'all points,

and-a cover of sheet material -in sections cement- -ed on said carcass,said carcass b eing determinative of the size and shape of the ball, andmeans .inserted in the carcass to prevent the escape-.of

air therethrough.

22. An inflatable game ball havinga stitchl carcass of form-shapedlaminatlops of 'textile v fabric cemented-together, said beingnonstretcnable.. semble, and having an opening through its wall with apatch lling said opening and resisting distortion o! the wall at thispoint 24. A game-ball according to claim 22 in which the textile fabricis non-stretchable. 25. A game'ball according to claim 2 2 in which byvulcanizable material.

26. An iniiatable game ball comprising a stitchthe textile fabriclaminations are bonded together less non-stretchable'iiexible carcass,of" f\ormshaped laminations having a patch filling and sealing anopening in the carcass wall. said patch -being of approximately the-samethicknesssex ibility, non-stretchable character andslrength as thecarcass wall and iiush with the outer surface thereof -and a cover ofpieces of material ce.

mented to the carcass and to thepatch, substantially as described'.

27. An inatable game ball having a. nonstretchable carcass composed ofitextile laminations, provided with an opening in itswall, a

member extending across the said opening `on thel inner sideof thecarcass, and textile laminatieur4 closing the opening, and sustained bysaid member.

28.,A1`1 inflatable ball `according to claim 27 in which the closinglaminations form substantially continuations of the main walllaminations, substantially as described.

29. An athletic iniiatable game ball having -a non-stretchablercarcassof laminatlons of textile fabric with ,an openingin its laminated wallclosed by a patch, the edges of the 'openings in said laminations beingout ofregistration with each other, said patch being composed'oflaminations, the edges of which are out of registration to accord' withthe non-registering edges of the main wall laminations and cementedthereto.

30. An inflatable athletic game ball comprising a non-stretchable,exible carcass of textile fabric having an opening through its wall.closed by a patch, and a cover of sheet material enveloping the carcassand its match, substantially as de- 31;AniniiatableballaccordingtoclaimSin which the'cover is in pieces freedfrom internal pressure byfthe nonkstretchable carcass, substantiallyesdescribed.

:maori-namen.

